Metal top for ironing tables



Sept. 29, 1959 H. E. WHITELEY 2,906,044

METAL TOP FOR momma TABLES Filed Jan. 11, 1957 INVENTOR Hanan E. WHITE L: Y

Unite States Patent METAL TOP FOR IRONING TABLES Harold E. Whiteley, Elm Grove, Wis., assignor, by mesne assignments, to Arvin Industries, Inc, Columbia, Inch, a corporation of Indiana Application January 11, 1957, Serial No. 633,628

3 Claims. (Cl. 38-137) This invention relates to improvements in metal tops for ironing tables and the like.

It is an object of this invention to provide a metal top which has high structural rigidity, is light in weight and is inexpesive to manufacture.

A further object is to reduce the amount of force required to form reinforcing embossments in the top.

These objects are attained by a table top made from a thin metal sheet having substantially the entire area thereof provided with small embossments located close together in substantial edge to edge relationship. The embossments are arranged so that a vertical cross section cannot be taken anywhere through the top which does not intersect the perimeters of a substantial number of embossments thereby providing reinforcement against stresses set up by longitudinal, transverse and diagonal bending moments. One arrangement which provides such reinforcement is to equally space the embossments in parallel rows transversely of the longitudinal axis with the perimeters thereof in substantially edge to edge relation and with the distance between rows being slightly less than the diameter of the embossments and with the embossments in adjacent rows staggered with respect to each other.

The embossments may have a circular base perimeter and a ridge-like top formed by a cylindrical-shaped tool having a chisel-headed point which permits the use of a smaller press resulting in lower manufacturing costs.

Other objects and advantages will be pointed out in, or be apparent from the specification and claims, as will obvious modifications of the embodiment shown in the drawings, in which:

Fig. l is a fragmentary plan view of an ironing table top with a partial showing of the embossments in the p;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view of the top;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary bottom view;

Fig. 4 is a view taken along line 4-4 of Fig. 2; and

Fig. 5 is a fragmenary perspective view of the chiselheaded tool used to form the embossments.

Referring to the drawings, Fig. 1 shows a metal top for an ironing table in which are formed embossments 12 in close together relationship over substantially the entire area of the top. Fig. 1, for purposes of simplicity and convenience, shows only a representative part of the embossed area of the top. It should be understood, however, that substantially the entire area of top 10 is embossed. The embossments are equally spaced in parallel rows AA transverse to the longitudinal axis B-B of 2,906,044 Patented Sept. 29, 1959 the top 10 with the distance between adjacent rows being slightly less than the diameter of the embossments. The embossments in one row are staggered with respect to those in adjacent rows to form diagonal rows CC at an angle of approximately 30 degrees with the longitudinal axis B-B. This arrangement makes its impossible to take a vertical cross section anywhere through the top which will not intersect a substantial number of embossments thereby providing reinforcement against stresses set up in any direction. It has been found that by forming embossments in the manner described, 28 gage material can be made sufiiciently structurally strong to provide adequate support for an ironing surface. Ironing tables of lighter weight and reduced cost result.

The embossments are formed by a press employing a plurality of tools 14 (Fig. 5) which have a chisel-shaped head 16 on a round shank 18. This gives the embossments a somewhat diamond-like shape with a ridge-like top and reduces the force required to form them and permits the use of a smaller press than would be necessary if a spherical-headed tool were used.

Although not shown in the drawings, the customary leg supporting braces are secured to the top. Since this structure forms no part of the present invention, it is not shown in the drawings or described in detail in the written specification.

Although but one embodiment of the present invention has been illustrated and described, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention or from the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

l. A metal top for ironing tables and the like comprising, a thin metal sheet with small closely spaced embossments in substantial edge to edge relationship over substantially the entire area thereof and lying on one side of the plane of the sheet to provide uniform reinforcement throughout said embossments being arranged in an ofiset pattern in adjacent parallel rows with the edges of the embossments in each of said rows extending into the spaces between the embossments in adjacent rows.

2. A metal top for ironing tables and the like according to claim 1 in which said embossments have a circular base perimeter and a ridge-like top.

3. In a metal top for ironing tables and the like according to claim 1 in which said embossments are equally spaced in parallel rows transversely of the longitudinal axis with the perimeters thereof in substantial edge to edge relation, said rows being spaced at distances less than the diameter of the embossments.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,074,824 Wadsworth Oct. 7, 1913 2,233,592 Dunajefi Mar. 4, 1941 2,441,476 Ewald May 11, 1948 2,550,051 Fay Apr. 24, 1951 OTHER REFERENCES Designing With Textured Metals, Product Engineering, March 1949, page 102. (Copy Available Div. 14.) 

